THOMAS LEER AND ROBERT RENTAL – “ The Bridge” (Industrial Records IR0007) 1979

What made electronic music from 1978 to 1983 so great was the restrictions. It was minimal out of necessity, monophonic because only Tangerine Dream and other Germans could afford polyphonic synthesisers. This fit in with the ethics of the time, and especially with Industrial Records, no chords, no Rock’n’Roll. Once technology became more affordable, we got crap like Howard Jones, Pet Shop Boys and Thomas Leers “Contradictions” album. Robert Rental (R.I.P.!)had the foresight to disappear after this album, doing what many artists fail to do on so many occasions , that is, ‘Going out on a high’.(except when enforced by unavoidable interventions like choking on ones own vomit or suchlike!) Recorded on the infamous Industrial Records eight track recorder (no, not those tape players which became the truckers weapon of choice in the early 70’s, but the reel to reel variety), which was kindly lent to our intrepid duo by the lovely Genesis P. Orridge. The result was a minimal wave classic, up there with Gary Numan’s “Pleasure Principle” and John Foxx’s “Metamatic”, but maybe a little more left field, and lacking an obvious hit single. The nearest being the opening track, “Attack Decay” (mp3 sample-click here!).The majority of side two is very much a homage to the enviably great Eno, with some creepy ambient numbers, nailing the coffin firmly shut from the evil clutches of commerciality, Forever!...... Let’s not sell-out to the ‘man’ boys.....very good.

Tracklist

1. "Attack Decay" - 3:45
2. "Monochrome Day" - 4:02
3. "Day Breaks, Night Heals" - 4:03
4. "Connotations" - 4:05
5. "Fade Away" - 6:25
6. "Interferon" - 7:58
7. "Six A.M." - 3:12
8. "The Hard Way In & The Easy Way Out" - 4:44
9. "Perpetual" - 5:05

DOWNLOAD THE BRIDGE HERE!